Creating a lush look without spending too much
First-time buyer looks for sales and searches for beauty at a discount
Chris Cutler is a first-time Calgary homebuyer with a lifelong passion for interior design. Cutler, a 25-yearold marketing manager with Re/ Max Real Estate, has a sense of style that’s uniquely his own – and he created the look in his home without breaking the bank. How would you describe your design style?
I am inspired by Italian, French and Parisian designs, mixed with a diverse assortment of other worldly items.
Growing up, my mother and grandmother’s homes were filled with French Provincial furniture, enormous fancy mirrors and big wing chairs.
There’s something about their homes that has always stuck with me, and I wanted to bring that out in my home.
I’m really old-fashioned, but the townhouse that I built has really modern aspects to it, such as stainless steel, granite and modern lighting fixtures.
I tried to be really creative and find those pieces to add that old- world look that I love. In a way, it’s like a mini-castle – I have giant lion statues when you first walk in, and sconces of candles all up the walls. This is definitely my own personal taste. Some people are going to look at it and go, “This is not for me.”
What design elements did you use to achieve this eclectic style?
I have a mild obsession with pretty and sparkly things; I purposely replaced nearly every light fixture in my home with a crystal chandelier, like the beautiful vintage-style chandelier I have hang- ing above a contemporary, black dining-room table.
I’ve also refinished a 19th-century sideboard with classic crystal knobs, topped with two custom-designed (and very modern) stainless steel lamps.
Some worldly items I’ve added to the mix are a leather—and-wood footstool from Egypt, elephant statues from Indonesia and Buddha statues from China.
All artwork in my home is either a landscape or photograph of parts of the world that have inspired me, particularly places such as Italy, Greece, Paris and New York.
How did you manage to create such an extravagant style without spending a fortune?
I’ve always believed you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a beautiful-looking home. I had an idea of what I’ve always wanted, but I knew there was no way I could ever afford it.
My mom and I would go shopping and find all these beautiful things for really cheap.
I searched for discounts and discovered hidden secrets for accessories, so I really didn’t spend that much.
And, I didn’t buy the first thing I saw – I waited to find the right piece.
You can bring anyone’s sense of style into a home; you just need to do a little research to find those pieces and know where to go.
What is your favourite piece or element in your home?
The centrepiece of the living room is this beautiful, classic fireplace mantel I found in an antique store close to downtown.
I fell in love with it when I saw it, and it was the first piece that I bought for my house, and everything else I bought was kind of focused around that. It’s the most awesome part of the family room.
It was in very rough condition, but with some sandpaper and a few coats of white paint, it was brought back to life.
Don’t be afraid to attempt refinishing something yourself – it can get very expensive hiring someone to do it for you.
What advice can you give others wanting to develop their own style?
I’m all for big, shiny, sparkly things, so when I was looking for stuff for my home, that’s what I went for. Just go with what you love.
If you love a certain colour, try to incorporate that into your home.
I love mint green – I don’t know why – so I’ll be painting my living room all mint green, and I think that’ll look amazing.
If you’re unsure of your own style, pick one thing you absolutely love and focus your whole project around that one thing. Find the one thing that inspires you.